View report page

29
is under the consideration of the Standing Committee on
Trade.
The Board took no action with regard to the other
Bills above-mentioned.
Water Supply
during Frost.
In consequence of tho severe frost experienced
from the beginning of January (with the
exception of the week January 14th-21st) to the 20th
of February, 1895, having interfered with the water
supply, numerous memorials complaining of the insufficiency
of such supply were addressed to the Local Government
Board by residents in this district and other parts
of London, under- the provisions of section 9 of the
Metropolis Water Act, 1852, and the Local Government
Board appointed Major-General de Courcy Scott, R.E., to
enquire into the complaints and to report to them thereon.
This Board also sealed memorials in respect of both the
Lambeth and the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Companies.
There were 17 memorials from residents in this
district, viz., 4 from districts supplied by the Lambetli
Company. 12 from districts supplied by the Southwark
aud Yauxhall Company, and one from a district supplied
by the two Companies. The Board placed their boardroom
at the disposal of Major-General Scott, and the first
enquiries were held there on the 9th, 11th, 18th, 19th.
25th, 26th, 29tli, and 30th of April, and the 9th of May,
when evidence was given by a large number of the memorialists
as to their being without a supply of water to
their houses, both during and after the frost, and as to
the defective arrangements made by the Companies by
standpipes and other means for supplying residents with
water. The Board's surveyors also gave evidence as to
the depth of the mains, communication pipes, &c., and as
to the occurrence of bursts in and the condition of the
mains. General Scott then adjourned the enquiry sine die